First the pictures: The first picture is the entering of the first form students with one of the first form teachers. 2nd picture is the 11th form students entering. 3rd picture is the Azerbaijani flag presentation. 4th picture is the singing of the national anthem and the speakers. 5th picture is the students and teachers dancing.
Last Bell – The Last Bell ceremony is similar to graduation. The 11th form and 9th form classes are honored. There are speeches, younger children perform dances, groups sing, and there are times when the class members get to dance. Parents, relatives and friends attend. It is usually held outdoors because there is no indoor space big enough for all the people. I was one of several speakers. With so many people and little children, it can get to be noisy. Near the end of the ceremony doves are released and fly around and away. There was a balloon drop that went wrong (the balloons got loose too soon and all the little children were running and grabbing balloons). A first form student is paired with an 11th form student. They walk together hand in hand out the school gates at the end of the ceremony. One first form student sits on the shoulders of an 11th form student and rings the school bell as they leave. This is to symbolize the passing of the legacy.
In AZ students must stay in school through the 9th form. After 9th form they can quit school or go on for the 10th & 11th forms. At school #9 we have 5 sections of 9th form but only 2 sections of 10th form. About 60% of students quit school after 9th form. Some of these students who no longer attend the local public school may go into the military school, police school or other programs. Unfortunately, most of the girls that leave school after 9th form will stay at home and help out there until they are married within the next 2-4 years. The finishing 11th form students usually go on to college or university. In AZ, college is a 2-year school similar to a community college in America. There is a college here in Shirvan. University is a 4-year school and there are 5 of those in the country.
In the afternoon after the ceremony, Denney, my English teaching counterpart, a Chemistry teacher (class sponsor) and me went to Afag’s (9th form girl) home for a party. We ate outdoors under a large grape arbor with a nice breeze and shade. There were about 20 students from 9B that attended (most of the class was there). The mother, grandmother and aunt had prepared a wonderful dinner. This class has many boys and they ate a lot! After dining, the dancing began. The students had brought CDs and enjoyed dancing. There was a second floor balcony, and the aunt, mother, grandparents watched the activity with enjoyment. Denney and I danced AZ dance and American Swing - the students it that was wonderful! We took pictures and visited with the aunt who is an English teacher at the university in Baku. She was eager to meet us and talk with us.
Later the next week, at English conversation club, Afag had tears in her eyes when she talked about her class and who would not be at school next year. She knew of only one boy and two girls who would return to School #9 and one boy is going to Baku to military school. All the others will be looking for jobs or staying home. Most of these students are 15 years old.
It was interesting to see the Last Bell ceremony, to see all the excitement of the people who attended and to be invited to the after-ceremony party. However, I feel distress that more students do not finish all 11 forms of school, most students do not seem to have plans after leaving the 9th form and that there are so few opportunities for these exiting 15-year olds, especially the girls.
The summer begins a real laid back time. There are no summer sessions at the college and the students return to their villages. Summer employment is not the norm. Students help around the house, go live with relatives in villages and help in the gardens and small farms, or just sleep late and watch television.
I have demonstrated the XO Laptop (One Laptop Per Child) and my counterpart is very excited about the possibilities. It would be quite a project. It is difficult to demonstrate all the capabilities since I don’t have access to wireless internet, and I don’t have a second XO to show the meshing capabilities.
Another project which seems to interest people is operating a Karaoke and music where families and young people could come. Free time is the major issue here. The young boys walk the streets and parks at night. The young girls stay home. Any constructive use of free time is a project.
The weather is getting warmer, and we have purchased 2 small fans. Thanks to everyone for your love and support! However, I am disappointed that no one commented on the toilet seat with the sharks or are they dolphins?
Last Bell – The Last Bell ceremony is similar to graduation. The 11th form and 9th form classes are honored. There are speeches, younger children perform dances, groups sing, and there are times when the class members get to dance. Parents, relatives and friends attend. It is usually held outdoors because there is no indoor space big enough for all the people. I was one of several speakers. With so many people and little children, it can get to be noisy. Near the end of the ceremony doves are released and fly around and away. There was a balloon drop that went wrong (the balloons got loose too soon and all the little children were running and grabbing balloons). A first form student is paired with an 11th form student. They walk together hand in hand out the school gates at the end of the ceremony. One first form student sits on the shoulders of an 11th form student and rings the school bell as they leave. This is to symbolize the passing of the legacy.
In AZ students must stay in school through the 9th form. After 9th form they can quit school or go on for the 10th & 11th forms. At school #9 we have 5 sections of 9th form but only 2 sections of 10th form. About 60% of students quit school after 9th form. Some of these students who no longer attend the local public school may go into the military school, police school or other programs. Unfortunately, most of the girls that leave school after 9th form will stay at home and help out there until they are married within the next 2-4 years. The finishing 11th form students usually go on to college or university. In AZ, college is a 2-year school similar to a community college in America. There is a college here in Shirvan. University is a 4-year school and there are 5 of those in the country.
In the afternoon after the ceremony, Denney, my English teaching counterpart, a Chemistry teacher (class sponsor) and me went to Afag’s (9th form girl) home for a party. We ate outdoors under a large grape arbor with a nice breeze and shade. There were about 20 students from 9B that attended (most of the class was there). The mother, grandmother and aunt had prepared a wonderful dinner. This class has many boys and they ate a lot! After dining, the dancing began. The students had brought CDs and enjoyed dancing. There was a second floor balcony, and the aunt, mother, grandparents watched the activity with enjoyment. Denney and I danced AZ dance and American Swing - the students it that was wonderful! We took pictures and visited with the aunt who is an English teacher at the university in Baku. She was eager to meet us and talk with us.
Later the next week, at English conversation club, Afag had tears in her eyes when she talked about her class and who would not be at school next year. She knew of only one boy and two girls who would return to School #9 and one boy is going to Baku to military school. All the others will be looking for jobs or staying home. Most of these students are 15 years old.
It was interesting to see the Last Bell ceremony, to see all the excitement of the people who attended and to be invited to the after-ceremony party. However, I feel distress that more students do not finish all 11 forms of school, most students do not seem to have plans after leaving the 9th form and that there are so few opportunities for these exiting 15-year olds, especially the girls.
The summer begins a real laid back time. There are no summer sessions at the college and the students return to their villages. Summer employment is not the norm. Students help around the house, go live with relatives in villages and help in the gardens and small farms, or just sleep late and watch television.
I have demonstrated the XO Laptop (One Laptop Per Child) and my counterpart is very excited about the possibilities. It would be quite a project. It is difficult to demonstrate all the capabilities since I don’t have access to wireless internet, and I don’t have a second XO to show the meshing capabilities.
Another project which seems to interest people is operating a Karaoke and music where families and young people could come. Free time is the major issue here. The young boys walk the streets and parks at night. The young girls stay home. Any constructive use of free time is a project.
The weather is getting warmer, and we have purchased 2 small fans. Thanks to everyone for your love and support! However, I am disappointed that no one commented on the toilet seat with the sharks or are they dolphins?
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